ES2640067B1 - HYDRODYNAMIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A CHANNEL - Google Patents

Abstract

Hydrodynamic control system for a channel comprising an inflatable gate (4) anchored to the bottom of the channel that divides the channel into two regions: an upstream region and a downstream region. It also includes hydraulic connection means for hydraulically communicating the upstream channel, the downstream channel and the inflatable gate (4). It also includes control means (13) to regulate the degree of inflation of the gate (4) as a function of the upstream level (2) in order to regulate the flow of water in the channel.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to opening control devices and systems for channel gates. More specifically, it applies to those inflatable floodgates immersed in channels.

Background of the invention or State of the Art

The majority operation of the channels to transport water in free sheet, seeks to transport and distribute water along its path, there are lateral intakes every certain distance through which water is derived from the channel for the different uses and points of consumption. The operation of these intakes requires maintaining the level in the high channel to allow lateral water bypass by gravity, while the possibility of storing water in the channel is also achieved by maintaining high levels, regardless of the flow of circulating water. This can only be achieved by installing regulation dampers.

Generally, to control water flows and levels in channels, metal gates are used, which in many cases for large channels are automated by means of electromechanical actuators. There are also metal gates whose regulation is automated through a float system. In both cases the installation requires an important civil work to adapt the geometry of the channel, and in the case of float regulation systems, these are systems where the setpoint cannot be modified during the operation of the channel. Although plastic components are increasingly used in the waterproofing of channels, the use of inflatable floodgates, also constructed with elastomeric compounds, is not common in channels or in free-leaf water distribution systems. However, these have the advantage that they are capable of adapting to multiple geometries, and their installation may be easier than the case of any type of metal gate.

On the other hand, in the infrequent cases in which inflatable gates are used, pneumatic or hydraulic electromechanical drives are installed to control their opening or closing.

For their automation they use a piezoresistive level sensor in the channel that sends the information to a programmable automaton (PLC), where an algorithm decides what pressure should be applied to the fluid inside the gate. Said pressure is controlled with a second pressure sensor, and there is an actuation system of the pumping system for inflation of the gate, or alternatively a motorized valve opening system for deflation. This type of proposal presents several problems or inconveniences. The control system is expensive and requires a continuous source of electrical energy, as well as maintenance of these systems. It also requires having a properly conditioned space in the vicinity of the canal or river where the equipment can be located.

In small channels or ditches, the regulation is carried out by means of manually operated metal gates, which require continuous supervision to adjust their position and are generally not automated for cost reasons.

In accordance with all of the above, the installation of regulation elements in channels is limited in number due to the cost of installation and maintenance, and if they are not automated, due to the need for continuous manual supervision under changing flow conditions.

Brief Description of the Invention

In view of the limitations observed in the state of the art, a control system that is applicable to inflatable gates, whose installation has a lower cost, would be desirable, provided that it is accompanied by a robust, automatic and automatic opening control system. Low economic and energy cost. Adding the possibility of being easily telecontrollable. This would allow the installation of a greater number of gates in channels to regulate levels, improving the exploitation and efficiency of these transport infrastructures.

The present invention proposes the regulation of the level of water in a channel by the automatic modification of the level of inflation of an inflatable gate immersed within the channel. The inflation level control is advantageously carried out by means of a hydraulic circuit that takes advantage of the hydrodynamic behavior of the inflatable gates when the water flow occurs on them, without the need for energy input from external sources.

The drive mode can have other variants, by means of a hydropneumatic control circuit that allows the variation of the setpoint level of filling of the channel, and the adaptation of the level of inflation of the gate for each new setpoint level.

The system is scalable, for different channel sizes, and optionally allows to be telecontrolled.

For some functionalities energy storage is required. However, only in small quantities to suffice with the installation of small batteries.

Once the circuit is primed with water and in hydraulic communication, it works without the need of any electrical components or mechanical drives, and without external energy supply. The system regulates itself based on a hydraulic circuit that takes water from the upstream position of the gate, and returns it to the downstream position of the gate. In that circuit, the pressure necessary to keep the water level in the upstream channel of the gate approximately constant is introduced into the inflatable gate. The external energy supply is only necessary for the priming of the circuit, until the hydraulic connection occurs, or to produce the variation of the setpoint level.

The system also allows alternately maintaining a fixed level difference in the channel between the upstream and downstream positions of the gate, with the added functionality of preventing the exceeding of a maximum level of water in the upstream channel of the gate, provided The hydraulic capacity of the channel is not limiting.

In specific embodiments, the use of electronic control means is not ruled out although in that case they would require power.

In sum, the hydrodynamic control system for a channel includes an inflatable gate anchored to the bottom of the channel that divides the channel into two regions, an upstream region and a downstream region; hydraulic connection means for hydraulically communicating the upstream channel, the downstream channel and the inflatable gate and control means for regulating the degree of inflation of the gate based on the upstream level.

Optionally, the control means include a casing that houses a first control chamber directly connected through the hydraulic connection means with upstream and with the inside of the inflatable gate.

Optionally, the cassette houses a second weir chamber receives excess water from the control chamber when the water exceeds a control level in the control chamber.

Optionally, the landfill chamber is directly connected through the hydraulic connection means with downstream.

Optionally, the filling of the inflatable gate is regulated by the difference in heights between the upstream level and the water level at the equilibrium point of said inflatable gate.

Optionally additionally, the filling of the inflatable gate is regulated by the downstream level.

Optionally, the cabinet includes a dividing wall that defines the control chamber and the pouring chamber.

Optionally, the partition wall has a hole that communicates the control chamber and the pouring chamber.

Optionally, the cassette is pressurizable and the control means additionally includes a pressurizing equipment that sets a pressure value in the cassette.

Alternatively, the control means are electronic and include a pressure sensor inside the gate, a valve with an electronic actuator installed in a tube that connects the upstream region with the inside of the gate (load pipe), a second valve with electronic actuator installed in a tube that connects the inside of the gate with the downstream region (discharge pipe) and an automaton that acts on the valves based on the pressure inside the gate measured by the pressure sensor .

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an inflatable gate and a hydraulic control system to maintain a constant level upstream, with an atmospheric pressure control box.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of an inflatable gate and a hydraulic control system to maintain a constant level upstream, with pressurized control box.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of an inflatable gate and a hydraulic control system to maintain difference in levels on each side of the constant gate, and maximum level upstream, with an atmospheric pressure control cabinet.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an inflatable gate and a hydraulic control system to maintain a difference in levels on each side of the constant gate, and maximum level upstream, with pressurized control box.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the figures, an exemplary embodiment without limitation is described illustratively.

As can be seen in the longitudinal profile, in an open-channel channel or conduit with a cashier's head (1) and bottom (5), an inflatable gate (4) fixed at the bottom of the canal, with flush flow over the gate that maintains the circulating flow in the conduction, produces a difference between the levels that the water adopts upstream of the gate (2) and downstream (3). The upstream level is conditioned by the level of inflation of the gate and the circulating flow. If it is the case that the downstream level remains sufficiently high, this variable will also condition the upstream level.

The shape adopted by an inflatable gate, anchored as indicated in the figure, produces an equilibrium point (8) where the pressures on either side of the membrane are equal. At that point of equilibrium (8) of the face upstream of the gate (4) there is a change of curvature from concave to convex, with the value of the curvature at that point in particular null. In an inflatable gate (4), made with a flexible material that adapts its shape according to the internal pressure and the flow conditions in its environment, without significant resistance to shear stresses, at that point of balance (8) where the curvature The internal pressure that occurs on the gate is zero, coincides with the external pressure that the flow produces on it.

That equilibrium point (8) where the pressures are equalized, relates the interior conditions of the gate (4) with the external flow, being the point where the pressures inside and outside the gate are equal. From the point of view of the flow conditions outside the gate, the pressure at that equilibrium point (8) is given approximately by the height of water that is on it in the outer region of the gate, although the Flow conditions neither rectilinear nor parallel that occurs in the environment may vary slightly. From the point of view of the interior conditions of the gate, the pressure at the equilibrium point (8) equals the external pressure. This water level above the equilibrium point (8) is lower than the upstream level (2) that occurs in the vicinity of the gate

(4)

by increasing its speed in the flush that occurs on the point of equilibrium (8). This difference in levels "~ H" in the figures (height in the upstream place (2) where the tube (12) is placed and water height in the vertical located above the place where the null curvature point of the gate at the point of equilibrium (8 »explains that if it is put into hydraulic communication upstream (2) and inside the gate (4), there will be a flow of water from the outside to the inside of the gate (4 ).

This energy gradient, from upstream of the gate (2) into the inflatable gate (4), produced by hydrodynamics of the flush over an inflatable or flexible gate, allows to create a system that maintains a constant level upstream from the gate (4). This system is represented on FIG. 1 And it comprises a casket (13), divided into two chambers. In the first chamber, which is represented on the left, the upstream levels are communicated by tubes (12)

(2)

of the gate and the inside of the gate (4). This first chamber performs the function of controlling the inflation pressure of the gate (4). While the degree of inflation of the gate (4) causes the level of control (6) in the control chamber to be below the level (7) of the inner dump in the cassette (13), the energy gradient it will produce the continuous entry of flow from upstream of the gate into the same, and with it the progressive inflation of the gate and consequent rise in the level of upstream water. When the level in

(6)

reach the elevation (7), the landfill will limit the maximum pressure in the gate and the consequent upstream level inside the canal, and will not allow the inflation level to produce upstream levels significantly higher than the level (7). Downstream of that landfill a second chamber is disposed within the casket from where the water is returned to the canal, towards the downstream area of the gate (3). Therefore, the two chambers are separated by a wall, with a landfill at the top, and only the second discharge chamber reaches water when the first control chamber is overflowing over the landfill (7).

With this embodiment of the system comprising a casket (13) open to the atmosphere, with a dividing wall with an interior dump. By varying the position of the interior landfill, the level of inflation of the gate (4) is forced to approximate the level upstream (2) of the gate to the height (7) of the landfill. This behavior continues to occur under changing conditions of circulating flow through the channel or conduction. The gate will increase its inflation rate or decrease it if the circulating flow on it decreases or increases, respectively, to maintain in any case the upstream level (2) around a constant value.

The control mechanism does not require any external energy input to perform its function of regulating the degree of inflation. It works by taking advantage of the hydrodynamic behavior of the inflatable or flexible gates fixed at the bottom of the channel or conduction.

A variant of this device, which would allow varying the upstream level (2) of the gate (4) without physically moving the height (7) of the landfill, is shown in FIG. 2.

In it the casket (13), which contains the two chambers, performs the control with a similar configuration, with the difference that it is closed and pressurized, with a pressurization equipment (10). Varying the internal pressure has an effect equivalent to varying the height (7) of the dump inside the cassette (13). Maintaining the height (7) of the interior dump of the casket (13) at a constant height, as the internal pressure decreases, what is produced is a decrease in the setpoint value for the upstream level (2) that you want to keep in the conduction in free sheet, while an increase in the internal pressure means an increase in the setpoint value. This is equivalent to physically lowering or raising the tail (7) of the inner dump of the casket

(13) in FIG. one.

The change in the setpoint value for the level implies a change in the internal pressure, and with it an external supply of energy, as the case may be, but as was the case in FIG. 1, at the moment the setpoint level has not been set. greater external energy input is required, and the device operates autonomously by controlling the level upstream of the gate.

There is a second variant to the scheme of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 3. In it, inside the box (13) for its control, a hole (11) is provided in the interior separation wall between the chambers that allows to maintain a constant difference of upstream level (2) and downstream level (3). This difference in levels maintained by the gate (4) coincides approximately with the difference in levels that is required to occur between the two chambers of the cassette (13) so that the flow that enters the cassette (13) and reaches a level of control (6) in the control chamber (16) that regulates the inflation is evacuated through the hole (11), reached a level of discharge (9) in the discharge chamber. This difference in turn is fixed hydraulically by the flow that reaches the inflation control chamber through the hydraulic connection tubes (12) and the hole size. The flow rate is substantially constant and with it the loss of energy produced by the passage through the hole. For a certain level downstream (3), which is approximately transferred to the level of discharge (9) of water in the discharge chamber (17), the flow through the hole (1 1) imposes a necessary level of control (6 ) to regulate inflation, and with it an upstream level (2) of the gate (4). For a certain hole size (11), depending on the downstream level (3) a level difference approximately constant with the upstream level will be maintained

(2) through this control mechanism. This will be so as long as the control level (6) does not reach the landfill level (7). If reached, it would be kept constant upstream level (2), keeping constant the difference in levels. If the size of the hole (11) is varied, for a given downstream level (3), the setpoint difference that defines the level to be maintained upstream would be changed. Again the operation is autonomous from the energy point of view.

Finally, FIG. 4 combines the variants represented in FIG. 2 AND 3, representing a control device that can be placed at any height, since the effective level of regulation will be conditioned by its position with respect to the conduction in free sheet that regulates and by its varied internal pressure with a pressurization equipment ( 10), and in which the device will maintain a difference of constant levels between upstream and downstream of the gate, with flow in the gate only through the hole (11), provided that the level in the inflation control chamber ( 6) do not exceed the level of the dump chamber (7), in which case it would be regulated by maintaining a constant level upstream of the gate.

Numerical References:

5 1 cashier head; 2 level upstream; 3 downstream level; 4 inflatable gate; 5 channel bottom;

10 6 level of control in the chamber of control of the case: 7 level of the lip of the dump that separates both cameras in the case; 8 pressure balance point on both sides of the gate: 9 level of discharge in the discharge chamber; 10 pressurization equipment;

15 11 hole in the dividing wall between chambers 12 hydraulic connection pipes: 13 casing; 16 control chamber; 17 landfill chamber:

Claims (10)

1. Hydrodynamic control system for a channel characterized by:

-

an inHable gate (4) anchored to the bottom of the channel that divides the channel into two regions, an upstream region and a downstream region;

-

hydraulic connection means for hydraulically communicating the upstream channel, the downstream channel and the inflatable gate (4);

-

control means (13) configured to regulate the degree of inflation of the gate (4) as a function of the upstream level (2).

2.

Hydrodynamic control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means comprise a casing (13) that houses a first control chamber (16) directly connected through the hydraulic connection means with upstream and with the interior of the inflatable gate (4).

3.

Hydrodynamic control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the casing (13) houses a second weir chamber (17) that is configured to receive excess water from the control chamber (16) when the water exceeds a control level ( 6) in the control chamber (16).

Four.

Hydrodynamic control system according to claim 3, characterized in that the landfill chamber (17) is directly connected through the hydraulic connection means with downstream.

5.

Hydrodynamic control system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling of the inflatable gate (4) is regulated by the difference in heights between the upstream level (2) and the water level at the equilibrium point ( 8) of said inflatable gate (4).

6.

Hydrodynamic control system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling of the inflatable gate (4) is further regulated by the downstream level (3).

7.

Hydrodynamic control system according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the cassette (13) comprises a dividing wall defining the control chamber (16) and the pouring chamber (17).

8.

Hydrodynamic control system according to claim 7, characterized in that the partition wall comprises a hole (11).

9.

Hydrodynamic control system according to any one of the claims

5 above 3 to 8, characterized in that the cassette (13) is pressurizable and that the control means additionally comprise a pressurizing equipment (10) to establish a pressure value in the cassette (13). 10. Hydrodynamic control system according to claim 1, characterized in that The control means (13) are electronic and comprise a sensor for measuring pressure inside the gate, a valve with an electronic actuator installed in a tube that connects the upstream region with the inside of the gate (pipeline load), a second valve with an electronic actuator installed in a tube that connects the inside of the gate with the downstream region (discharge pipe) and 15 an automaton that acts on the valves as a function of the pressure inside the gate measured by the pressure sensor.